Swedish man beats bus in video challenge

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UPDATED: A Swedish runner who filmed himself beating his bus in Sundbyberg in north west Stockholm over the weekend is now planning a similar challenge on the capital's Metro system.

Michael Jönsson was inspired by a video of a man sprinting between underground stops in London that went viral last week.

His film isn't as slick as the one made in the UK, but it is starting to gain momentum online.

The Local spent Monday morning chasing Michael Jönsson for a comment, but even on social media he was difficult to catch.

He later told us via email that he found the international interest in his video "very exciting".

The runner, 28, works as a system developer at technology company Knowit, in Stockholm.

"So I sit down all day, the exact opposite of in my free time!", he told The Local.

Bus drivers in Stockholm will be looking out for other runners taking up the challenge. Photo: TT

Jönsson is now planning a similar experiment on Stockholm's Metro, but would not be drawn on when this might take place.

According to mobile phone app Runkeeper, Michael Jönsson's average speed during his bus chase was around 3 minutes and 27 seconds per kilometre.

It is an impressive rate, although not quite as speedy as the times clocked up by his almost-namesake Michael Johnson, the US sprinting legend who won four Olympic gold medals.

At more than six minutes long, Jönsson's video offers a glimpse of life in Sweden's green suburbs.

But whereas Londoner James Heptonstall was applauded by morning commuters when he arrived at his destination, the bus driver in Michael Jönsson's film appeared completely nonplussed by his passenger's achievement.